Automatic indicating and recording car-scale.



No. 778,359. PATENTED DEC. 27, i904,

Ca CCBTZ. AUTOMATIC INCICATINC AND RECORDING CAR SCALE.

y APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1904.

j'fEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED DEG. 27, 1904.

G. GOETZ.

AUTMAT NDIOATNG AND REGORDNG GAR SCALE.

APPLXGATION FILED MAR. .7, 1904.

ll SHEETS-SHBET 2.

PATENTE-D DEC, 27, 1904.

G. COBTZ.

AUTOMATIC INDCATNG AND RECORDING CAR'SCALB.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1904.

1l SHEETS-SHEET 3 IIIHU /W .ff u' GOETZ:

AUTOMATG DJATNG' AN@ REURDNG GAR SOA EILED MAR. 7, 1904.

APPLGATIUN ATBNTED DEC. 2i3

P ATENTBD DEG. 27, 1904.

G. Gomz. AUTOMATIC NDmATING AND RECORDING. GAP. SCALE.

APPLICATON FILED MAR.7,1904.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

G. GDETZ.

AUTOMATIG INDCATING AND RECORDING GAR SCALE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 7, 1904.

1l SHEETS-SHEET 6.

i. (D n C .Ey/Mw www..

PATENTED DEG. 2'7, 1904.

C". CCETZ.

AUTOMATIC INDICATINC AND RECORDING CAR SCALE.

11 SHEETS-EHEET 7.

APPLICATION. FILED MAR. 7, 1904.

PATENTED DEG. 27, 1904.

C. CCETZ. AUTOMATIC INDICATINC AND RECORDING CAR SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. 1904.

l1 SHBBTS-SHEET 8.

PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

G. GOETZ.

AUTOMATIC INDICATING AND RECORDING CAR SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1904.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

C. GCETZ,

AUTOMATIC INDCATNC AND RECORDING CAR SCALE.

APPLICATION ILBD MAR.7,190%.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

No. 778,359. PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

- G. GOETZ.

AUTOMATIC INDICATING AND RECORDING CAR SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. '7, 1904.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET ll.

D D L/ Patented December 27, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE GOETZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR -TO STREETER-AMET VVEIGHING AND RECORDING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC INDICATING AND RECORDING CAR-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,359, dated December 27, 1904. Application filed March '7, 1904. Serial No. 196,976.

To cir/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE GOETZ, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing in Chicago,

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Indieating and Recording Car- Scales,of which the following' is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in scales for automatically weighing railway-cars and indicating and recording or printing` the weights thereof as a train of ears in continuous motion passes over vthe scale-platform.

'Ihe object of myinvention is to provide an automatic weight indicating and recording ear-scale of a simple, eiiicient, and durable construction by means of which the several cars coupled in a train may be automatically weighed and the weight of each car automatically indicated to the attendant and also recorded without stopping the train, the operation of weighing, indicating the weight, and recording the weight of each car being' done as the train is drawn over the scale-platform at a reasonable speed.

My invention consists in the means I employ to practically accomplish this object or resultthat is to say, it consists, in connection with a railway-track and a car-scale platform having track-rails thereon forming 3o an extension or part of the railway-track, of track-levers at each end of the scale-platform adapted to be operated by the wheels of a car, a scale-beam furnished with an extension or arm, a dash-pot cylinder having a piston connected with the scale-beam extension or arm and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening' valves, a rotatable typewheel and weight-indicating-iingcr shaft furnished with a gear, a weight-indicatori finger on said shaft, a type or printing wheel on said shaft, a tension-spring, a rack connecting the scale-beam with the spring, a stationary graduated index in cooperative relation with the pointing-finger, a stationary pointermark printing type adjacent to the typewheel, an impression-hammer, an impressionhammer lever, a trigger forholding the impression-hammer lever in its elevated position, a spring for actuating the impressionhammer, a paper-strip or tape reel, take-up reel and guide-rollers in cooperative relation with the type-wheel, a motor for actuating the take-up reel, a notched disk and lever mechanism for controlling the forward feed of the paper strip or tape, a carbon or other printing-disk interposed between the typewheel and pointer-type and the impressionhammer, two pawl-carrying slides, one connected with and actuated by each of the track levers at the ends of the scale-platform, ratchets actuated by said pawl-carrying slides and furnished each with a cam and connectinglever adapted to raise the impression-hammer lever after a certain number of impulses or movements of either of said ratchets-as, for example, three movements thereof-and to disengage itself from said lever on the next or fourth impulse thereof, said levers being' actuated together, so that the mechanism for raising the impression-hammer lever cannot be withdrawn to permit the descent of the impression-hammer lever until both of the ratchets have been given the required number of impulses or movements necessary to indicate that all the wheels of the car are on the scale-platform, the mechanism operating to release the impression-hammer lever while all the wheels of the car are on the scaleplatform and before any of the wheels of the car leave the scale platform, so that the SO weight will be both indicated to the attendant by the pointer-finger on the stationary scale-index and recorded by the type-wheel on the paper strip or tape automatically while the car is on the scale-platform and as it is drawn continuously over the same in the train of which it forms a part.

Myinvention also consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown or described.

In the accompanying' drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the ligures, Figure 1 is a side elevation of acom- 95 bined weight-indicating and weight-recording car-scale mechanism or apparatus embodying my invention, the vview being partly diagrammatic and the intermediate portion of the scale-platform being' broken away to enable the main parts of the iig'ure to be made on an enlarged scale. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the printing' or weight-recording mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail end elevation oi' the parts shown in Fig. 3, showing also the scalebeam. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the broken line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5iL is a detail section of the type-wheel. Fig. 6 is a detail section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail elevation ot' the weight -indicator dial and pointer. Fig'. 9 is a detail elevation, partly in vertical section, ot' the connection between the scale-beam and the rack which operates the type-wheel or recording-wheel. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the connections between the car-indicator mechanism and the trip device of the weight-printing' mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail vertical section on line 11 11 of' Fig. 2. Fig. 12 is a detail elevation of the type-wheel-operating rack and the adjustable spring' connected thereto. Fig'. 13 is a detail plan view showing a portion of the type-wheel, paper strip, and adjacent parts. Fig. M is a detail section on line 14 14 of Fig. 5 through the head of the hammer. Fig. 15 is a detail plan view of the dashpot valve. Fig. 16 is a detail elevation of the same. Fig. 17 is a detail elevation of the spring-motor for winding up the paper strip or tape. Fig'. 18 is a detail 'front elevation of the device or mechanism for indicating the position of the car in respect to the sealeplatform. Fig. 19 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig'. 2O is a detail elevation, partly in section, of the device for indicating' the position of the car in respect to the scale-plat- Jform. Fig'. 21 is a section on line 21 21 of Fig. 20. Fig'. 22 is a detail section on line 22 22 of Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a detail section on line 23 23 ot' Fig. 21. Fig. 24.C is a detail section on line 24C 24 of Fig'. 21. Fig. 25 is adetail section on line 25 25 of Fig. 20. Figs. 26 and 27 are detail sections on line 26 26 of Fig'. 25, showing the parts in diiiferent positions. Fig'. 28 is a detail plan view showing' a portion of the scale-platform and adjacent track. Fig. 29 is a detail vertical cross-section on line 29 29 of Fig. 28. Fig'. 30 is a vertical section on line 30 30 ol Fig. 28. Fig'. 31 is a section on line 31 31 of Fig'. 30. Fig.

32 is a section on line 32 32 oi' Fig. 30; and Fig. 33 is a section on line 32 32 ot' Fig'. 30, showing the parts in different positions from that shown in Fig. 32.

In the drawings, A represents the platform of a car-scale having railway-tracks A. thereon which connect with the rails A2 oi' the railway-track at each end oi' the scale-platform, so that a train of cars may be drawn continuously over the scale-platform.

B is the scale-beam, having the customary counterbalance-weights B' B2 B3, which, however, are used silnply for the purpose of balancing' the scale and not for the purpose oi weighing or indicating the load on the scaleplatform.

Bl is the link or connection between the scaleplatform or its levers and the scalebeam B, the link BAL connecting with a lever Bi just beneath the scale-beam, which is connected by a link Bi with the scale-beam.

The scale-beam B is furnished with an eX- tension B7, removably secured by bolts Bs to the curved head BJ of the scale-beam. The scale-beam B is provided near its end with a knife-edge bearing b, engaging a clevis 7/, which is connected with a spring-balance C through the coupling-link b2, serew-tln'eaded swivel-coupling' 7)", adjustable sleeve 7X", coupling-rod 7;, and rack 717. The shank b of the clevis has a slot 7;" to receive the coupling'- link 712 and a transverse pin b1 and al hole l to receive the removable coupling-pin 7), which has a notch or groove 711 at its end to receive the spring-retaining' clamp LM. The coupling-pin 7112 has a chain 71"", secured to the clevis 7) by a screw 7;. This enables the coupling-pin to be readily removed i'or detaching the scale-beam from the tension-spring' C, while at the same time preventing' the coupling-pin from becoming lost. The inclined slotted coupling-link 7)2 is furnished with an inclined end 7/7 to lit the incline 7/ls in the clevis so as to secure a rigid, accurate, and central connection between the clevis 7;' and the coupling-link b2. The coupling-link has a swivel connection 7) with the screw-threaded coupling' L", so that the clevis will be free to turn and prevent any binding or twisting strain.

The connecting-rod 7) has a pivotal connection 7120 with the upper end ot' the rack 07, and the rack 727 is connected tothe counterbalancespring' C through a screw-threaded swivelcoupling' 7j, threaded plug' 7X, link 72, having' knife-edge bearings 7i", a hook 7i, having knife-edge bearing 7X3, the hook b2 being' integ'ral with the spring C.

The countcrbalance-spring C is connected at its lower end through an adjustable clamp C', having an eye C, through which one coil ot' the spring' is threaded, and having' dividing'- i'inger G3 and set-screw C" with a guide plug or stein C5, which is secured to an adjustable bracket C, which may be adjusted up or down on the screws C7 by the threaded nuts Cs C. By turning' the tension-:uljusting' clamp C the operative length of the spring may be varied as desired or required. By moving the adjustable .spring-bracket C up or down the tension of the spring' may be 'further adjusted without changing its operative length. By turning the adjustable screw-coupling 7i the position of the rack 7)? in respect to the spring may be adjusted. By turning the adjustable screw-threaded coupling 7;" the posi- 'ILO tion of the rack 67 in respect to the scale-beam may be adjusted as required.

D is the weight-indicator-fing'er and typewheel carrying shaft. It is furnished with a 1 gear CZ, meshing with the rack 67, so that this shaft is rotated to a greater or less extent, according to the weight or load upon the carscale platform and the consequent corresponding tension put. upon the counterbalancespring C and resultant movement of the scalebeam B. The shaft D carries a pointer-linger E, which indicates to the attendant the weight upon the stationary circular graduated indexscale E. rlhe shaft D also carries the typeprinting wheel F, which records the weight in connection with the stationary pointer-type F7 on a paper strip or tape X.

The type-wheel and pointer-linger shaft D is journaled on antifrictionwheels D7, the shafts D2 of which are journaled on antifriction-wheels D3, the shafts D4 of which are journaled on the frame To keep the shaft D steadily in position between the antifrictionwheels D', I provide an adjustable overhanging hook-shaped g'uard D, which should be adjusted by screw D7 just so it does not touch the periphery of the shaft.

The rack 57 is guided as it moves up and down by a iianged wheel DS, mounted on an adjustable bracket D7, having' an adjusting'- screw D10, so that the ianged guide-wheel may be accurately adjusted in relation to the reciprocating rack, so as to guide the same without interfering with its free movement or occasioning any friction thereon.

To steady the movement of the scale-beam and prevent vibration of the type-wheel F and of the indicator-finger E and cause the scalebeam to come over quickly to a true balance for each car as the train passes over the sealeplatform without stopping, the scale-beam extension or arm B7 has connected thereto the piston G of a dash-pot cylinder G7, and the piston G is furnished with two upwardly-opening' valves g g and two 'downwardly-opening valves g7 /7, each of the valves beingof comparatively large diameter and held closed by a iiat spring g2, which permits the valve to open when the liquid-pressure thereon is great, so that the dash-pot piston may be moved quickly and brought to rest quickly, while at the same time steadying the movement of the piston in the dash-pot cylinder and preventing vibration or unsteady movement of the piston and of the scale-beam connected thereto.

The weight-indicating finger or pointer E and the graduated circular index E7 are inclosed in a closed case E2, having a glass front E3 and a removable back Ef, so that the weight of each car may be readily observed by the attendant as the train is drawn continuously along over the scale-platform.

The type-wheel F is furnished on its periphery with a series of type or figures f, indicating successive weights, the intervals between successive figures being', as indicated in the drawings, two hundred pounds, the weights between such ligures being' approximately indicated by the position of the pointer-type F7 in relation thereto and the relative position of the print of the pointer-type on the paper strip or tape in respect to the print of two adjacent number-types ff simultaneously made on the paper strip or tape X. The type-wheel F is a metallic wheel having' a metal rim f3, metal hub ff, metal spokes f5, and a thin copper type-strip f, secured on the peripheral face of the type-wheel rim, the series of number-types being raised or embossed type formed in the thin copper typestrip f6.

The paper strip or tape X, upon which the weig'hts of the cars of the train are successively printed or recorded as the train passes over the scale-platform A, is automatically fed from the reel or spool H, about whichv it is wound, to the take-up spool or reel H7, upon which the printed record is wound. The paper strip or tapeX in passing' from the feedspool H Ato take-up spool H' passes over or around the guide-rolls H2 H;s H", over the g'uide-plate H5, which is preferably of wood, and over the guide-sjn'ing HG. The paper strip or tape passes centrally and transversely over the type-wheel F and over the stationary pointer-type F7, the pointer-type printing' simply a straight line or indicator-markf, while the type-wheel prints successive numbers, as f7, the units of the numbers indicating' hundreds of pounds, as weights of cars are large, and it is not desired or required to have the weights of cars except two hundreds of pounds.

The take-up spool H' is rotated and the tape X thus kept under tension by a springmotor J', which tends to constantly turn the take-up spool and does so turn it when the notched disk Hs on the shaft H" of the roller H:i is released or permitted to turn. The notched disk Hs is normally held from rotation by a lever H20, pivoted to the frame at Hw, and held normally in engagement with the cam or notched disk H by a spring Hu. The lever H20 is at each depression of the printinghammer l( disengaged from the notched cam or disk H, so as to permit the tape X to automatically feed forward the length necessary for receiving' the next impression thereon by the downward stroke of the 1n'inting-lever hammer K7, which strikes the free end of the .lever H20. rFhe spring'- motor J may be of any usual or well-known construction. lt preferably comprises a case or frame J7. spring J2, shaft J 3, train of gears Jl, shaft J5, train of gears JG, and winding'- key J 7.

The paper strip or tape X passes transversely over the type-wheel F and indicatortype F7 and beneath the rotatable printing'- disk l, having carbon-paper 17 on its under IOO IOS

surface to cause the type of the type-wheel F and indicator F to make a distinct print or impression on the paper strip or tape X. The printing-disk I has a shaft or stud 12, and it is turned or rotated by the friction of the paper strip or tape X against it as said paper strip feeds forward, the guide-spring H pressing the paper strip against the rotatable printingdisk, so as to cause the printing-disk to turn, thus bringing a new printing-surface of the printing-disk into printing position for each impression, so that the printing-disk and paper strip will move together, thus preventing the printing-disk from smearing the paper. A cord or belt I". preferably a rubber passing around a pulley l" on the shaft I and a pulley IG on the shaft 17 of the guide-roller Ju, also communicates motion to the printing-disk.

The impression-hammer K is carried by a lever K, pivoted at K to the frame, and it is held in its lifted position by a trigger or pawl K3, which engages the notched rear end of the lever K. The impression-hammer is actuated to strike the necessary downward blow against the type-wheel F and pointertype F to cause an impression to be made upon the paper strip X when the type-wheel is turned to indicate the true weight of the car on the scale-platform by a spring K", attached to the impression-hammer lever K. The impression-hammer lever K is automatically raised into position for operation, and the trigger holding it in its lifted position is automatically released to permit the impression-hammer to descend when each car is fully on the scale-platform and before any of the wheels of the car pass off the scaleplatform and while the type-wheel is brought to a true balance, so as to indicate the true weight of the ear, and before the front wheels of the next succeeding car of the train pass onto the scale-platform by two long bent or bail-shaped track-levers M M, located closely adjacent and parallel to the track-rails A on the scale-platform and in the path of the flange of the car-wheels, so that these bent or bail levers will be depressed or actuated by the flanges of the wheels of the car as it passes along. The track-levers M, one at each end of the scale-platform, extend each for about one half its length on the scale-platform and for the other half of its length along the track-rail A2 just beyond the scale-platform. Motion is communicated from the bent or bail levers M by means of a connecting-link M` bent lever M2, connecting-link M, bent lever Mi, and connecting-link M5, furnished with a compensating spring MV. The connecting-link M5 connects with a sliding' bar M7, carrying a pawl MS, pivoted to said slid- -ing bar lV 7 by a pivot-screw M, which pawl is held in operating position by a spring M10 to engage a ratchet-wheel M1l on the shaft M1, so that said shaft is turned a distance of one ratchet-tooth for each car-wheel passing over the bent or bail lever M. The shaft M1 thus actuated is provided with a cam M13 secured thereto, said cam being provided with one cam projection fm, for each four teeth of the ratchet-wheel, so that the cam will be operative once to every four movements of the ratchet-wheel, the apparatus illustrated in the drawings being designed for weighing ordinary freight-ears having eight wheels, or four wheels on a side. The cam M13 at the third movement of the ratchet M11 operates to raise the impression-hammer through the connecting bent lever 711/, link nl?, lever f/nf, link m", lever m5, link m, and bent lever m7, which has a pin m passing underneath the impression-hammer lever K. Then the impressionhammer lever is thus raised into position shown in Figs. l and 5 by the third movement of the ratchet h .11, it is automatically held in this position by the pawl K, and the fourth step or movement of the ratchet M1I moves the cam M13 out of contact with the bent lever fm and allows the bent levers m and m7 and their connections to return to their normal position in obedience to the spring m", so that the impression-hammer may be free to descend when released by the pawl K. Stops or buffers www, secured to the box or case m, limit the movement of the levers in one direction. The pawl K:i is automatically moved to release the impressionhammer lever K at the fourth movement or stop of the ratchet M11 by means of the camwheel m12 on the shaft M12 operating lever m1, connected to a link m through levers fm, link ml, and lever m17, which engages a pin m15 on the pawl K3, and thus moves the pawl to release said in'ipression-hamxner lever K.

To prevent overrotation of the ratchet-shaft MN, said shaft is provided with a reverse ratchet mf", which is engaged by a pawl mii", pivoted to the bent lever mf", which is pivoted at mi to the frame and connected at vnf with the slide M7, so that when the slide M7 operates the ratchet Ml it will through bent lever m21 throw the pawl lmfao into engagement with the reverse ratchet fnv/1". To prevent any backward movement of the ratchet M, a pawl mf" is provided and held in engagement with said ratchet Ml1 by a spring mfr.

The track-levers M are duplicated or two in number and are located one at each end of the scale-platform, as before stated, and the ratchet mechanism above described for raising and releasing the impression-hammer is likewise duplicated, one set of this mechanism being employed foreach of the track-levers M. As the two duplicate bent levers m m, of each of said duplicate ratchet mechanisms are connected together by the link m, it will be seen that the impression-hammer lever K cannot descend until both cams l\/ 3 are moved into position for disengaging the levers nt mf ric and consequently 'permitting the bent lever m7 to withdraw out yof the way of said impression-hammer lever K and 'permit its descent. In other words, the impression-hammer cannot descend to print the weight of the car until both ratchets Ml1 have each been operated four times-that is to say, until the four wheels of one car passing ed the scale-plat- -form have each and all operated the track-lever M at the exit end of the scale-platform and until the four wheels of the entering car have each and all operated the bent track-lever M at the other end of the scale-platform. rlhe impression-hammer K is preferably of metal, and it is furnished with an inner elastic or soft-rubber covering 7c on its face and also with au outer hard-rubber or elastic covering r/ on its face, the same being secured thereto by clamps zf and clamp-screws 7c".

Each of the bent or bail-shaped track-levers M is pivoted or mounted between a pair of brackets N and N, the bracket N being secured on the scale-platform adjacent to the track-rail thereon and the bracket N being secured to the stationary scale-frame A5, surrounding the scale-platform. Each of the brackets N N is furnished with incline-guards a, preferably removably secured thereto by a key or pin a to prevent the track-levers M from being injured by a broken or dragging brake beam or shoe or other part of the car being drawn along from the same. The pivotbrackets N N for the track-levers are furnished with stop-shoulders a3, which engage corresponding stop-shoulders a* on the tracklevers to limit the upward movement of the track-levers M, so that the track-levers cannot project above the upper surface of the track-rails A A2, and thus be liable to injury by the passage of the car-wheels over the same. The track-levers M are also preferably provided with additional stop-shoulders a5, which engage the upright outer faces of the pivot-brackets N N and serve as additional stops to limit the upward movement of the track-levers.

As the upper face of the track-levers, which is engaged by the iiange of the car-wheel, is liable to wear, I preferably provide the tracklevers with removable wearing-plates a, secured thereto by rivets, so that the wearingfaces of the track-levers may be renewed without throwing away the whole track-lever.

To permit trains of cars to pass over the track A:s without actuating and wearing the scale mechanism when it is not desired to weigh the cars, I provide supplemental trackrails Ai A7, having stationary supporting-sills A8 A8 extending under and adjacent to the scale platform, so that the train may be switched onto these supplemental track-rails without actuating' the scale-platform.

The ratchet-shaft Mwis provided on the outside of the inclosing case P of the ratchet mechanism with apointer or finger P', which ratchet mechanisms are in proper registry with each other. The ratchet-shaft M12 is also provided with a handle P3 for turning it by hand to adjust the two ratchet mechanisms with each other.

As freight-cars are frequently of different lengths and of different distances between wheels, to adapt the apparatus to operate automatically upon either long or short cars coupled promiscuouslyin the train, it is necessary to duplicate the long bent or bail-shaped track-levers M M and the ratchet mechanisms and to have the bent levers m m of the two ratchet mechanisms connected together, so that neither can operate to permit the withdrawal of the bent lever m7 until both cams M13 are turned to the same position by four wheels of one car passing ofi" and four wheels of another car passingonto the scale-platform. The two bent track-levers M M are located far enough apart so that all four wheels of a long car may stand on the scale-platform between them without touching either` and they are at the same time located near enough together so that when a short car is located on the scale-platform the front wheel of the next car cannot touch either of said levers. By this means the apparatus is adapted to weigh both long and short cars coupled promiscuously in a train, and the printing or weightrecording mechanism is so controlled that it will only be operated when the wheels of one car are alone upon the scale-platform. In case, however, for any reason such an extremely long or extremely short car happens to be in the train that the automatic weightrecording mechanism is not adapted to automatically record its weight or in case for any reason the weight-recording mechanism should fail to properly operate the weight-indicator finger E and circular index E will nevertheless enable the weight of the car to be secured and noted down by the attendant. The combination of the weight-indicator mechanism with the weight-recording mechanism in the automatic car-scale is thus of great utility and convenience and materially increases the eiiiciency of the apparatus as a whole.

As locomotives and their tenders usually have a different number of wheels from the cars and as the wheels of the locomotive and tenders are differently spaced in order to prevent the duplicate ratchet mechanisms from being' thrown out of their proper relations with each other for counting and being actuated by the four wheels of the car to be weighedv by the passage of an unequal number of wheels on the engine or tender over the scale-platform, I provide the operating-pawls lMs of each of IOO IOS

IIO

the ratchets M11 with a device for temporarilyholding said pawls out of gear or operative position in respect to said ratchets while the wheels of the locomotive or locomotive-tender are passing over the scale-platform. This pawl or gearing or disengaging device preferably consists of a pin R, having a pointed or inclined end fr, which passes through a hole fr' in the slide M7 and enters a funnel-shaped hole of in the pawlM, and thus forces the pawl out of operative position with the ratchet. The instant all the wheels of the engine and tender pass the lever M, connected with one ratchet mechanism, and before the first or front wheel of the car engages said lever the pawl-disengaging pin R must be removed, and the same is true in relation to the pawl-disengaging pin of the other ratchet mechanism. The pawl-carrying slide M7 after being pulled down by the track-lever M is automatically retracted by a spring S. rlhe track-levers M are each automatically returned to normal position after being operated upon by one wheel, so as to be ready to be again operated upon by the next wheel by means of a spring S', connected to the bent lever M by links S2. The spring' M0 compensates for any excess of movement of the track-lever M over that of the sliding bar M7. The ty pe-wheel shaft D is provided with a counterweight D, connected thereto by a cord D12, wound around the shaft to take up backlash and insure a more sensitive and accurate action of the typewheel in responding to the weight being weighed.

I claim# l. A combined weight indicating and weight-recording car-scale for weighing and recording the weights of cars in motion comprising in combination, a car-scale platform having track-rails thereon, bail-shaped tracklevers at each end of the scale-platform adapted to be operated by the wheels of a car, a scale-beam furnished with an extension-arm, a dash-pot cylinder having a piston connected with the scale-beam extension-arm, and 4furnished with upwardly and downwardlyopening valves, a rotatable shaft furnished with a gear, a type-wheel on said shaft, a weight-indicator finger on said shaft, a stationary circular graduated index in cooperative relation with said linger, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent to said type-wheel, a counterbalance tension-spring, a rack connecting the scale-beam with the spring and meshing with thegear on said shaft, an impression-hammer,

an impression-hammer lever, a trigger for l guards to protect the levers from dragglng holding' the impression-hammer lever in its lifted position, a spring for actuating the impression-hammer, a paper-strip-feed reel, take-up reel and guide-rollers, a motor for actuating' the take-up reel, a notched cam-andlever mechanism for controlling the forward feed of the paper strip b y the movement of interposed between the paper strip and the impression-hannner,two pawl-carrying slides, one connected with and actuated by each of the track-levers at the ends of the scale-platform, ratchets actuated by said pawl-carrying slides, and furnished each with a cam and eennecting-lever adapted to raise the impressionhammer lever after a certain number of impulses or movements of either of said ratchets, and to disengage itself from said lever on the next or fourth impulse thereof, said levers being actuated together so that the mechanism for raising the impression-hammer lever cannot be withdrawn to permit the descent of the impression -hammer until both of the ratchets have been given the required number of impulses or movements necessary to indicate that all the wheels of the car are on the scale-platform, substantially as specified.

2. ln an automatic weight-recording carscale, the combination with a scale-platform, beam and type-wheel connected thereto and operated thereby, an impression-hammer, and mechanism for automatically operating' the im pression-hammer when all the wheels of a car are on the scale-platform, of long bent or bail-shaped track-levers at each end of the scale-platform for actuating said mechanism, supporting-brackets for said levers and interengaging shoulders or stops on the levers and brackets for limiting the upward movement of the track-levers, substantially as specified.

3. In an automatic weight-recording carscale, the combination with a scale-platform, a scale-beanl and type-wheel connected thereto and operated thereby, an impression-hainmer, and mechanism for automatically operating the impressionhammer when all the wheels of a car are on the scale-platform, of long bent or bail-shaped track-levers at each end of the scale-platform for actuating said mechanism, supporting-brackets for said levers and stop-shoulders on said levers engaging said supporting-brackets tolimit the upward movement of the levers substantially as speeilied.

4. In an automatic weight-recording carscale, the combination with a scale-platform, a scale-beam and a ty pe-wheel connected thereto and operated thereby, an impression-hammer and mechanism for automatically operating the impression-hammer when all the wheels of a car are on the scale-platform, of long bent or bail-shaped track-levers at each end of the scale-platform for actuating' said mechanism, supporting-brackets for said le vers, said supperting-braclrets having inclined parts of a ear, substantially as specilied.

1n an automatic weight-recording carscale, the combination with a scale-platform, a scale-beam and type-wheel connected thereto and operated thereby, an impression-hammer and mechanism for automatically operthe impression-hammer lever, a printing-disk l ating the impression-hammer when all the IOO IIO

wheels of a car are on the scale-platform, of track-levers are moved by the passag'e of the long bent or bail-shaped ti'ack-levei's at each car-wheels, a paper-strip-feed reel and takeend of the scale-platform for actuating said mechanism, supporting-brackets for said levei's` said supporting-brackets liavingseparate and removable inclined guards to pi'otect the levers from dragging parts of a car, substantially as specified.

6. A combined weight indicating' and weiglit-recording car-scale for weighing and recording the weights of cars in motion, comprising in combination, a car-scale platform having track-rails thereon, bail-shaped tracklevers at each end of the scale-platform adapted to be operated by the wheels of a car, a scale-beam furnished with an extension-arm, a dash-pot cylinder having a piston connected with the scale-beam extension-arm, and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening valves, a rotatable shaft furnished with a gear, a type-wheel on said shaft, a weiglit-indicator fing'ei' on said shaft, a stationary cii'- cular graduated indeX in cooperative relation with said finger, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent to said type-wheel, a counterbalance tensioii-spring, a i'ack connecting' the scale beam with the spi'ing and meshing with the gear on said shaft, an impressionhammer, an impression-hammer lever, a trigger for holding the impression-hammer lever in its lifted position, a spring for actuating' the impression-hammer, and connecting mechanism between said bail-sliaped track-levers and the impression-hammer lever and its releasing-trigger for automatically actuating' the same as the track-levers' ai'e moved by the passage of the car-wheels, substantially as specified.

7. A combined weight indicating and weight-recording car-scale for weig'hing and recording the weig'lits of cars in motion, comprising in combination, a car-scale platform having track-rails thereon, bail-shaped tracklevei's at each end of the scale-platform adapted to be operated by the wheels of a car, a scale-beam furnished with an extension-arm, a dash-pot cylinder having a piston connected with the scale-beam extension-arm, and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening valves, a rotatable shaft furnished with a gear, a type-wheel on said shaft, a weig'lit-indicator finger on said shaft, a stationary cii'- cular indeX in cooperative relation with said finger, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent to said type-wheel, a counterbalance tension-spring', a rack connecting' the scale-beam with the spring and meshing with the gear on said shaft, an impression-hammer, an impression-liammer lever, a trigger for holding' the impression-hammerlever in its lifted position, a spi'ing' for actuating the impressionhammer, and connecting' mechanism between said bail-sliaped ti'ack-levers and the impression-hammer lever and its releasing-trigger for automatically actuating the same as the up reel, a motor for actuating' the take-iip i'eel and a notched caiii-and-lever mechanism for controlling the forward feed of the paper strip by the movement of the impression-hammei' lever, substantially as specified.

8. A combined weight indicating' and weight-i'ecording car-scale for weighing' and recording the weights of cai's in motion, comprising' in combination, a car-scale platform having' track-rails thereon, bail-shaped tracklevei's at each end of the scale-platform adapted to be operated by the wheels of a car, a scale-beain furnished with an extension-arm, a dash-pot cylinder having' a piston connected with the scale-beam extension-arm, and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening valves, a rotatable shaft furnished with a gear, a type-wheel on said shaft, a weight-indicator' finger on said shaft, a stationary circular index in cooperative relation with said finger, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent to said type-wheel, a counterbalance tension-spring, a i'ack connecting' the scale-beam with the spring' and meshing with the gear on said shaft, an impression-hammer, an impression-hammer lever, a trigger for holding -the impi'ession-liaiiiinei' levei' in its lifted position, a spring for actuating the impressionhammer, and connectingmechanism between said bail-shaped track-levers and the impression-hammer lever and its releasing-trigger for automatically actuating the same as the ti'ack-levers are moved by the passage of the car-wlieels, a paper-strip-feed reel and takeup reel, a motor for actuating' the take-up reel and a notched cani-and-levei' mechanism for controlling the forward feed of the paper strip by the movement of the impression-hammei' lever, and a printing-disk interposed between the papei' strip and the impressionhanimer, substantially as specified.

9. A combined weight indicating and weiglit-recordiiig' car-scale for weighing and recording' the weights of cars in motion, comprising in combination, a car-scale platform having' track-rails thereon, bail-'shaped tracklevei's at each end of the scale-platform adapted to be operated by the wheels ofv a car, a scale-beam furnished with an extension-arm, a dash-pot cylinder having' a piston connected with the scale-beam extension-arm, and fui'- nished with upwardly and downwardly opening' valves, al rotatable shaft furnished Vith a gear, a type-wheel on said shaft, a weiglit-indicator finger on said shaft, a stationary circular graduated index in cooperative relation with said finger, a stationary pointer-mai'k type adjacent to said type-wheel, a counterbalance tension-spring, a rack connecting the scale-beam with the spring' and meshing with IOO the gear on said shaft, an impression-liainmei', A

lifted position, a spring for actuating the impression-hammer, and connecting mechanism between said bail-shaped track-levers and the impression-hammer level' and its releasingtrigger for automatically actuating the same as the track-levers are moved by the passage of the car-wheels, a paper-strip-feed reel and take-up reel, a motor for actuating the takeup reel and a notched cam-and-lever mechanism for controlling the forward feed of the paper strip by the movement of the impression-hammer lever, and a rotatable printingdisk interposed between the paper strip and the impression-hammer and a spring` for pressing the paper strip against the printing-disk to cause the printing-disk to rotate by the forward feed of the paper strip, substantially as specified.

10. ln an automatic weight-recording scale, the combination with a scale-platform and scale-beam, of track-levers at each end of the scale -platform, a counterbalance-spring, a rack connected with the scale-beam and spring, a rotatable shaft having a gear meshing with said rack, a type-wheel on said shaft, a stationary pointer-mark ty-pe adjacent to said type-wheel,an impression-hammer,an im pression-hammer lever, mechanism for operating' said impression-hammer automatically fromthe track-levers, a paper-strip-feed mechanism and a printing-disk rotated by the forward feed of the paper strip, substantially as specified.

11. ln an automatic weight-recording scale, the combination with a scale-platform and scale-beam, of track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a counterbalancespring, a rack connected with the scale-beam and spring, a rotatable shaft having a gear meshing' with said rack, a type-wheel on said shaft, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent to said type-wheel, an impression-hammer, an impression-hammer lever, mechanism for operating' said impression-hammer automatically from the track-levers, a paper-strip-feed mechanism and a printing-disk rotated by the forward feed of the paper strip, said paper-strip-feed mechanism having a notched cam or disk and a lever engaged by the impression-hanimer lever to control the feed of the paper by the movement of the impression-hammer lever, substantially as specified.

12. 1n a combined weight-indicating and weight printing' or recording scale, the combination with a scale-beam, of a dash-pot cylinder having a piston connected to the scalebeam and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening' valves, a counterbalancespringl connected to the scale-beam, a rack connected to the scale-beam and counterbalance-spring'` a shaft furnished with a gear meshing with said rack, a type-wheel on said shaft, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent to said wheel,an impression-hammer,a weightindicator linger on said shaft and a circular index or dial cooperating with said indicatorfinger, a scale-platform having track-rails thereon, long' bail-shaped track-levers at each end of said scale-platform in the path of the car-wheels, and connecting mechanism for operating the impression-hammer automatically from said track-levers, substantially as specified.

13. ln a combined weight-indicating and weight printing or recordingv scale, the combination with a scale-beam, of a dash-pot eylinder having a piston connected to the scalebeam and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening valves, a counterbalanccspring connected to the scale-beam, a rack connected to the scale-beam and counterbalance-spring, a shaft furnished with a gear meshing with said rack, a type-wheel on said shaft, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent to said wheel, an impression -hammer and weight-indicator [i nger on said shaft and a circular index or dial cooperating with said indicator-finger, a scale-platform having trackrails thereon, long bail-shaped track-levers at each end of said scale-platform in the path of the car-wheels and connectingmechanism for operating the impression-hammer automatically from said track-levers, and. supportingbraclets for said track-levers, said track-levers having stop-shoulders engaging said supporting-brackets to limit their upward movement, substantially as specified.

1li. 1n an automatic weight-indicating and weight-recordingl car-scale, the combination with a scale-platform having track-rails thereon, of long bail-shaped track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a scale-beam, a dashpot cylinder having a piston connected to the scale-beam and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening valves, a eounterbalancespring connected to the scale-beam, a rack connected to the scale-beam, and counterbalance-spring, a shaft furnished with a gear meshing' with said rack, a rotatable weightindicator iinger, a stationary index or dial cooperatingtherewith, a rotatable type-wheel, a stationary pointer-mark type ad jacent thereto,an im pression-hammer, an iml'iression-hammer lever, a trigger for holding said impression-hammer lever in its lifted position, and connecting mechanism between each of said track-levers and said impression-hammer lever and trigger for actuating the same by the movement of the car-wheels, substantially as specified.

15. In an automatic weight-indicating' and weight-recording' ear-scale, the combination with a scale-platform having' track-rails thereon, of long bail-shaped track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a scale-beam, a dashpot cylinder having' a piston connected to the scale-beam and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening valves, a counterbalancespring connected to the scale-beam, a rack connected to the scale-beam and counterbal- IOOI ilo

ance-spring, a shaft furnished with a gear meshing with said rack, a rotatable weightindicator finger, a stationary index or dial cooperating therewith, a rotatable type-wheel, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent thereto, an impression-hammer, an impressionhammer lever, a trigger for holding said impression-hammer lever in its lifted position, and connecting mechanism between each of said track-levers and said impression-hammer lever and trigger for actuating the same by the movement of the carwheels, and a paper-strip-feed mechanism, substantially as specified.

16. In an automatic weight-indicating and weight-recording car-scale, the combination with a scale-platform having track-rails thereon, of long bail-shaped track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a scale-beam, a dashpot cylinder having a piston connected to the scale-beam and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening valves, a counterbalancespring connected to the scale-beam, a rack connected to the scale-beam and counterbalance-spring, a shaft furnished with a gear meshing' with said rack, a rotatable weightindicator finger, a stationary index or dial cooperating therewith, a rotatable type-wheel, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent thereto, an impression-hammer, an impressionhammer lever, a trigger for holding said impression-hammer lever in its lifted position,

. and connecting mechanism between each of said track-levers and said impression-hammer lever and trigger for actuating the same by the movement of the car-wheels, a paper-stripfeed mechanism and a printing-disk, substantially as specified.

17. In an automatic weight-indicating and weight-recording car-scale, the combination with a scale-platform having track-rails thereon, of long bail-shaped track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a scale-beam, a dashpot cylinder having a piston connected to the scale-beam and furnished with upwardly and downwardly opening Valves, a counterbalancespring' connected to the scale-beam, a rack connected to the scale-beam and counterbalance-spring', a shaft furnished with a gear meshing with said rack, a rotatable weig'htindicator finger, a stationary index or dial cooperating therewith, a rotatable type-wheel, a stationary pointer-mark type adjacent thereto, an impression-hammer, an impressionhammer lever, a trigger for holding' said impression-hammer lever in its lifted position, and connecting mechanism between each of said track-levers and said impression-hammer lever and trigger for actuating the same by the movement of the car-wheels, a paper-stripfeed mechanism, a printing-disk and a spring pressing the paper strip against the printingdisk to cause the printing-disk to be rotated by the paper strip, substantially as specified. Y

18. In an automatic weight-recording carl l i l l scale, the combination with a scale-platform, of track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a scale-beam, a counterbalance-spring, a rack, a rotatable shaft having a gear meshing' with said rack, an impression-hammer, an impression-hammer-lever mechanism for operating the im pression-hammer lever from the track-levers, a stationary pointer-mark type and a metallic type-wheel on said shaft having a metal rim, metal hub and metal spokes, and a thin copper ty pe-strip on the peripheral face of the type-wheel rim, substantially as specified.

19. In an automatic weight-recording carscale, the combination' with a scale-platform, of track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a scale-beam` a counterbalance-spring, a rack, a rotatable shaft having a gear meshing with said rack, an impression-hammer, an impression-hammer lever, mechanism for operating the im pression-hammer lever from the track-levers, a stationary pointer-mark type and a metallic type-wheel on said shaft having a metal rim, metal hub and metal spokes, an d a thin copper ty pe-strip on the peripheral face of the type-wheel rim, and mechanism for controlling the feed of the paper strip by the movement of the im pression-hammer, substantially as specified.

20. In an automatic weight-recording carscale, the combination with a scale-platform, of track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a scale-beam, a counterbalance-spring, a rack, a rotatable shaft having a gear meshing with said rack, an im pression-hammer, an impression-hammer lever, mechanism for operating the impression-hammer lever from the track-levers, a stationary pointer-mark type and a metallic type-wheel on said shaft having a metal rim, metal hub and metal spokes, and a thin copper type-stri p on the peripheral face of the type-wheel rim, and mechanism for controlling the feed of the paper strip by themovement of the impression-hammer, and a printing-disk, substantially as specified.

Q1. In an automatic weight-recording carscale, the combination with a scale-platform, of track-levers at each end of the scale-platform, a scale-beam, a counterbalance-spring, a rack, a rotatable shaft having a gear meshing with said rack, an impression-hammer, an impression-hammer-lever mechanism for operating the impression-hammer lever from the track-levers, a stationary pointer-mark type and a metallic type-wheel on said shaft having a metal rim, metal hub and metal spokes, and a thin copper type-strip on the peripheral face of the type-wheel rim, and mechanism for controlling the feed of the paper strip by the movement of the impression-hammer, a printing-disk, and a spring for pressing the paper strip against the printing-disk to cause the printing-disk to be rotated by the forward feed of the paper strip, substantially as specified.

IOC

IIO 

